Long shoulder pad

ABSTRACT

An adjustable shoulder pad for a violin or viola, the pad being of a configuration and size so that it gives support not only at the shoulder but extends onto the chest so as to gain needed support in this area, the pad being comprised of an upper and lower panel of material secured together at their edges, a pocket formed there between being stuffed with Dacron material, the pad thus formed having a diagonally extending loop secured thereto through which a leather strap extends, the leather strap being attachable directly to the violin or viola.

United States Patent Long [ Sept. 12, 1972 [54] LONG SHOULDER PAD [72] Inventor: Dorothy Dolores Long, 1322 N.

22nd St., Phoenix, Ariz. 85022 [22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 95,608

[52] US. Cl. ..84/280 [51] Int. Cl. ..G0ld UB2 [58] Field of Search ..84/278, 279, 280

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,925 10/1915 Poehland ..84/280 1,721,919 7/1929 Meyers ..84/280 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 296,363 4/1954 Switzerland ..84/278 OTHER PUBLICATIONS William Iaewis & Sons Catalog No. 57, Chicago, Ill.,

1958, p. as. g

C. Bruno & Sons, Inc. Catalog No. 96, New York, N.Y., 1965, p. 235.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales ABSTRACT An adjustable shoulder pad for a violin or viola, the pad being of a configuration and size so that it gives support not only at the shoulder but extends onto the chest so as to gain needed support in this area, the pad being comprised of an upper and lower panel of material secured together at their edges, a pocket formed there between being stuffed with Dacron material, the pad thus formed having a diagonally extending loop secured thereto through which a leather strap extends, the leather strap being attachable directly to the violin or viola.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED I973 v 3.690.211

INVENTOR Dorothy Dolores Long LONG SHOULDER PAD This invention relates generally to musical instruments.

More specifically the present invention relates to accessories for string instruments such as violins and violas.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder pad designed specifically for a violin or viola and which gives not only support at the shoulder but extends onto the persons chest so as to gain needed support in this area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder pad which thus allows a person to hold the instrument more firmly with only the chin and shoulder thereby permitting freedom of the left hand and fingers for technique that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to do.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder pad for a violin or viola and which eliminates rocking or unstableness of the instrument while playing thereupon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder pad for violins or violas and which provides comfort because it cannot dig into or press against a persons chest or shoulder such as occurs in situations where a metal base shoulder rest is used.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder pad for violins and violas which does not interfere with a persons hand and arm motion when shifting and playing in the higher positions of the instruments.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a shoulder pad for violins and violas which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a violin showing the present invention secured thereto,

FIG. 2 is a pattern view of a lower panel of the pad,

FIG. 3 is a pattern view of an upper panel thereof,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a long shoulder pad according to the present invention wherein there is an assembly 11 which is comprised of a pad 12 and a supporting strap 13 used for securing the pad to an underside of a violin or viola 14.

The pad 12 is comprised of a panel 15 of relatively narrow width and a panel 16 of relatively wider or broader width, as is evident in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The panel 15 is likewise slightly longer in length than the other panel 16. The materials used for the panels 15 and 16 may comprise leather, suede, felt, corduroy or any other material suitable for the task.

The opposite end edges 17 of the panel 16 are gathered as shown by gatherings 18 so to configurate the panel 16 into the configuration of a vessel as is suggested in FIG. 4 so that when the panels are peripherally enjoined together by means of a stitching 19, there is a space formed between the panels 15 and 16, the space being filled with Dacron stuffing.

An important feature of the present invention is that the opposite longitudinal ends of the pad thus formed is stuffed more firmly than the longitudinal center of the pad.

After this specific stuffing feature is accomplished the above described stitching 19 is completed at the peripheral edges of the panels 15 and 16.

A tunnel-shaped loop 21 is secured adjacent the panel 15 of the pad, it being noted as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing, that the loop 21 has a central opening therethrough that extends in a diagonal direction respective to the longitudinal direction respective to the pad. A slideably adjustable strap 13 is then fitted through the loop 21 as shown in FIG. 5, the opposite ends of the strap being provided with openings 22 and 23 for a purpose of receiving a rubberband 24 for directly attaching the device to the underside of the violin or viola 14.

Accordingly it will be noted that the pad is slideable along the strap 13 which thus extends freely through the loop 21 attached to the underside panel 15 of the pad.

One of the openings 23 of the strap may be secured to a button normally provided on such musical instruments at their base end or the same opening may be adaptable for engagement with the rubberband 23 fitted through the opening 22 at the opposite end of the strap, the rubberband 24 being normally fitted over a comer 25 formed at one end of the C-shaped notch at one side of the instrument.

Thus there is provided a shoulder pad for violins or violas that is readily adjustable and which supports not only at the shoulder but also extends onto the chest of a person thereby gaining support at this area, thereby permitting a person to hold the instrument firmly with only the chin and shoulder which gives freedom for the left hand and fingers for technique.

The particular feature of filling the Dacron stuffing 20 more firmly at the opposite ends of the pad and less firmly at the center thereof also aids in providing comfort to the musician.

What I now claim is:

1. In a long shoulder pad for violins or violas, the combination of an elongated pad assembly adjustably attachable to the underside of said violin or viola, said elongated pad being slidably mounted to a strap extending in a diagonal direction with respect to a longitudinal direction of said pad, said strap at its opposite ends being secureable to an underside of said violin or viola, said pad being comprised of a lower and upper panel, the edges of said panel being stitched together so to form a pocket there between, said pocket being stuffed with plastic material stuffing, different longitudinal portions of said pad being stuffed more firmly, the opposite longitudinal ends of the pad being stuffed more firmly than the longitudinal center of said pad, a diagonally extending loop being secured to said lower panel, said loop forming a passage there through, said passage being at a diagonal angle of approximately 45 with respect to a longitudinal axis of said pad, said passage receiving said strap, and said strap at its opposite ends being provided with an opening adaptable for receiving a rubber band secureable directly to said violin or viola.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE fiERTIFIQATE 0F GUERREQTIQN Patent No. 3,690,211 Dated September 12, 1972 Inventor(s) DOIQbhy Dolores Long It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet [72} "1322 N 22nd St" should read M 13222 N. 22nd St.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attes t:

EDWARD M,FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer" Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (w'eg) uscoMM-Dc wave-#69 U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969 0"366334.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEETc'E QER'HFICATE @F CQRREQ'HUN Patent Nb. 3,690,211- Dated September 12, 1.972

Inventods) Dorothy Dolores Long It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet {7'2} "1322 N 22nd St" should read 13222 N. 22nd st. I

' Signed andsealod this 19th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD FLFLETCHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-1 69 U454 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I989 O-365-334, 

1. In a long shoulder pad for violins or violas, the combination of an elongated pad assembly adjustably attachable to the underside of said violin or viola, said elongated pad being slidably mounted to a strap extending in a diagonal direction with respect to a longitudinal direction of said pad, said strap at its opposite ends being secureable to an underside of said violin or viola, said pad being comprised of a lower and upper panel, the edges of said panel being stitched together so to form a pocket there between, said pocket being stuffed with plastic material stuffing, different longitudinal portions of said pad being stuffed more firmly, the opposite longitudinal ends of the pad being stuffed more firmly than the longitudinal center of said pad, a diagonally extending loop being secured to said lower panel, said loop forming a passage there through, said passage being at a diagonal angle of approximately 45* with respect to a longitudinal axis of said pad, said passage receiving said strap, and said strap at its opposite ends being provided with an opening adaptable for receiving a rubber band secureable directly to said violin or viola. 